The Solar Temple

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Cult Members Say Solar Temple Leaders Ordered
"Mass Suicides" AFP/April 19, 2001
53 members of the Solar Temple found dead
"Death does not exist, it is pure
illusion. -Temple member
16 charred bodies found arranged in a star
formation
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The Solar Temple

• A brief synopsis of the events leading to the
• ritualized mass suicides of Solar Temple members.

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Ritualized SuicidesMembers of Solar Temple
Commit Organized Mass Suicide

• October 5, 1994 Cheiry, Switzerland
• 23 found dead in burning farmhouse
• 25 found dead nearby in burning chateau's

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Ritualized SuicidesMembers of Solar Temple
Commit Organized Mass Suicide

• October 5, 1994 Cheiry, Switzerland
• 23 found dead in burning farmhouse
• 25 found dead nearby in burning chateau's

• December 23, 1995 Freedom Alps
• 16 found dead arranged in star formation
• October 23, 1997 Quebec, Canada
• 5 found dead

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We are leaving this earth to find all the
lucidity and freedom of a new dimension of truth,
far from the hypocrisies and oppression of the
world, in order to achieve the seeds of our
future generation. -Luc Jouret
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Charismatic Leaders
Joseph Di Mambro August 19, 1924-October 5, 1994

• 1956-1969 - member of the the Rosicrucian order
  AMORC (Ancient and Mystic Order of the Rosy
  Cross)
• 1973 begins the center for preparing the new age
• 1976 becomes full-time spiritual master
• 1978 begins the golden way foundation in Geneva
• Searches for a charismatic leader to help
  expand the organization

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Charismatic Leaders
Luc Jouret October 18, 1947-October 5, 1994

• Early 1980s - meets Di Mambro
• 1981 - joins the renewed order of the temple
  (ORT)
• 1983 - becomes grand master of the ORT
• 1983 - forced out of ORT, takes half of the
  members with him

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The Order of the Solar Temple

• 1984 Di Mambro and Jouret jointly establish The
  Order of the Solar Temple
• Jouret becomes the spokesperson of the group
  while Di Mambro heads up backstage operations
• Jouret draws hundreds to lectures in Switzerland,
  France, and Canada
• 1984 the group becomes more structured

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Group StructureThe Group Becomes Organized Into
Three Areas.

• The Amanta - the external activities, consisting
  of seminars and lectures
• The Archedia clubs - interested lecture
  attendants become more involved
• The International Chivalric Organization of the
  Solar Temple - the final level or initiatory order

Solar Temple Crest
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Belief StructureSolar Temple Combines
Neo-templar Beliefs With Esoteric and
Environmental Concerns

• Goals of the solar temple identical to the
  sovereign order of the solar temple

1. Re-establishing the correct notions of
authority and power in the world. 2. Affirming
the primacy of the spiritual over the
temporal. 3. Giving back to man the conscience
of his dignity. 4. Helping humanity through its
transition. 5. Participating in the Assumption
of the Earth in its three frameworks body,
soul, and spirit. 6. Contributing to the union
of the Churches and working towards the meeting
of Christianity and Islam. 7. Preparing for the
return of Christ in solar glory.
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Belief StructureSolar Temple Combines
Neo-templar Beliefs With Esoteric and
Environmental Concerns

• Goals of the solar temple identical to the
  sovereign order of the solar temple

• Strong concern for the state of the environment
• The Blue Star, Sirius, seeded life on earth
  26,000 years ago
• Members are noble travelers
• Fire is considered cleansing and vital for safe
  passage to Sirius

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The MembersMostly upper class influential
citizens

• 442 members in 1989
• 90 Swiss
• 187 French
• 86 Canadian
• 53 Martiniques
• 16 Americans
• 10 Spaniards

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Membership FeesClub dues determine level of
salvation

• 500,000
• membership
• charm packet
• salvation from death
• 1,000,000
• membership
• large charm packet
• first class ticket to Sirius

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Membership FeesClub dues determine level of
salvation

• 3,000
• Ceremonial Sword
• handed down from Knights of Templar
• 1,000
• Magic Cloak
• sewn by Nikki Dutoit
• Solar Temple revenue estimated at 100 million
  dollars

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Conflicts AriseDissention within the group
causes leaders to panic

• Early 1990s - Di Mambros son, Elie, questions
  the existence of the masters
• Members begin to disassociate
• 1993 - members arrested for buying illegal hand
  guns with silencers
• Elie and former member Tony Dutoit speak out
  against Di Mambro claim that some of his
  phenomena were faked

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Deadly ActionsEscalating Group Tension Leads to
Organized Killings

• Di Mambro becomes paranoid
• Tension between Jouret and Di Mambro escalates
• October 4, 1994
• Dutoit found murdered along with his
  wife and daughter

Dutoit family
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Leaders Order Suicide

• Dutoits assassins return to Switzerland
• Mass suicides are staged at two location within
  12 hours of the Dutoit murders

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October 4, 1994As Evidence Is Collected, Doubts
Arise Deaths May Not Have Been Voluntary.

• 2 members die from strangulation
• 21 members shot to death after taking sleeping
  pills
• 10 of the bodies found with plastic bags over
  their heads
• Some members found with hands tied behind their
  backs
• Others die by lethal injections

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The End of the Solar Temple?

• The Solar Temple group continues to exist
• 30 surviving members in Quebec
• 140-500 world wide

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Works Cited

• http//www.religioustolerance.org/dc_solar.htm
• http//www.rickross.com/groups/solar.html
• http//www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/mass
  /solar_temple/1.html
• http//religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/so
  lartemp.html
• http//hsc.virginia.edu/csmhi/ciag/apoc_bkg.html
• http//news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/news
  id_1361000/1361069.stm
• http//www.templarhistory.com/solar.html
• http//www.godulike.co.uk/faiths.php?chapter74su
  bjectwho
• http//www.watchman.org/profile/solartemplepro.htm

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Questions, Comments, Fears, Trepidations?
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Our Web Page
http//personal.centenary.edu/jbeckham/apocalypse
/solar.html